Draft appliance.



J. A. BUCHANAN.

DRAFT APPLIANGE. APPLICATION FILED 11111.28, 191s.

Patented N014, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

NVENTOR Bug Q9@ ,ML

"" Attorney WTNESSES J. A. BUCHANAN. DRAFT APPLIANGE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28, 1913. 1,077,797. Patented N0v.4,1913.

2 HEETs-SHEBT 2.

WITNESSES JNVENTOR coLuMnm PLANMRAPH co..wASH|Nn'roN. D. c.

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"remuer orrion was TA# .aaa-aanwas meer meer@ To @ZZ whom t may concern Be it known thatI, JOHN A.BUo'i-IANAN,

a citizen of the UnitedStates, residingvatl Pittsburgh', inthe "county of Alleghenygand State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented .Cer

tain new anduseful Improvements inDrat Appliances, of which the .following is ya specification.

rEhe present invention relates to improvements in draft appliances, such as swingletrees, double-trees, eveners, necl-yolzes, .'etc., ythe invention being adaptable for use in each of these connections, and it isintended that the terni. draft appliance shallv cover these various forms.

The invention pertains iiioie particularly to Yconstructions in which thelbar is made of metal and ,of tubular `form. yDraft appliances of this type provide for `maximum strength and eiticiency, but, owing tothe in-j purposes, the subsequent re-heating and fashioning' of the end of the bar kto receive the end `itting, and then the addition of the Fitting. These various heatings not only increase the cost by reason ,of the'. time requiredY and the handlingnecessary to perform them,I but in addition inateri ally affect f the textureof the bar, thus .requiring the fand. by thei'use of:Y a relativeiy I nexpen irai.- ag, samantha.. sans retaijnathebarffee:.fromlp -elin'iinatidng'oi..bolts,..etc:;' as .seciiring in usevof fittings which will tend to overcome thedeficiencies of the .bar, requiring- 1. the formation oi? specialV 'and expensiveforms otittings-for this purpose. Thesevari'ous manipulations require the .use of'expensive' r'iiachinery, etc., :the ,result being "that the .-ompletledy bar` is relatively expensive.

"The Ypresent invention has z for. itsl objects the provisionbi" a construction whichfwill providef 4the maximum eiiicie'n'cy of the ai, bar

now` in. use and at'A thel .same time `r rnaterially ``ylreduce'. the cost. 015..,.nianufacture2.through the elirninationl of a.. number of heating processes. L especially ...'tl'i'atfm aii'ecting "the, center, sive Other :objects areleto.` provide"` ay kconstruespecification or Letters ifatent. Application lred January g8, .,Sei'ia1`-nb1o. 744,755.

- mentaal? tion in whichthebar andiitting configurations are such as to provide;nn'itual coperation .in providing `maximum,strengthl and low cost of nianutacturmto prot/idea.con- .structionY wliichfis simple and eilicientin operation, durable in construction, which can be provided by simple operations, and `which isneat and attractivein appearance. To Athese and j other yends, the naturefof Whichrwiil be readily understood ,as 'the yinvention ishereinafter disclosed, saidfinven- .tion consists in the improved construction and combination of. parts'hereinafterf. fully described, illustrated in the Ia,ccornpaiiying drawings, and more `fully'pointed o'utin the appendcdclaims. Y V

In the accompanying drawings, Y in which similary reference charactersv indicateV similar parts ineach 01:'` the views z-Figure 1 is a .longitudinal sectional ,viewl of a iciortiony of a bar constructed in accordance witha preferredlformof the invention. Fig. ,Qis a sectional .view taken online Q-,Qbf 1. Figs. 3y ande are crossfsectional view'sftaken respectively onl lines land oFig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the fitting shown in Fig. 1. Fig..6 is a crosssectional view taken on lineG-TG otFigxl. `Fig. 7

is afijaginentary longitudinalv sectional view kshowing a .modifiedxorm of end fitting. Figs., 8 andn9tare crossfsectionalviews taken respectively .non lines 5 8&8 and 9--9v'lo'f'fFig- 7. i-lFig. 10is aV ifragnientaijvfldngitudinal section showinganotlier modiiediiorin of `V.endfitting Fig.. liis a erosssectionalve'w .taken on line 11,--.-11,ofFig-.f10.` Fig. 12 is a ydetail view of the lend f t-ting'shown in .,Fig., 10 prior` tobeingiplaced in position.

Oneof fheprcinal.featuresOfthenrention is theiconstructon ottheleiidotthe bal" byrmeans oiwhichv the end'ttinglisnot e'iily Yheld in place. but .formation .fof end configuration is such as,Y ,to ,provide a taper to the bar. his general .y arrangement' is provided l preferably in g the ,tollowing ,maninei-:'lihe bai-indicated atlQOLisfini 'ally a ,tubeQlmpirwndlsss in.crsfstn llish *is ,then o erated |j .upon to ,flatten 'VoppQSite f-.sidesiygivingjte t bea somewhat o vl'con- 'l ection, #this ope .thenheated distance attbi@ the depressed portion. This action may be` increased by tapering the bottom of the channel with the point of greatest depth at the end of the bar, this action obviously having the effect of providing a Ytaper tothe end of the bar as a whole.

formed, it'will be understood that they may be provided by means other than by rolls, but in either event, it will be understood that since the formation of the depressions or channels has a tendency to taper the end of the bar, there is no necessity for providing the several separate heatings of the bar for this purpose, so that a number of reheating operations are eliminated, decreasing the cost of manufacture to that extent and at the same time eliminating the harmful effect Yon the metal which is produced by increasing the number of beatings to which the bar is subjected, especially at its longitudinal center. This is of an additional advantage in that the heating required for the purpose of the present invention does not extend throughout the length of the bar, so that the portion of the bar upon which the greatest strain is placed, viz., the portion between the end fitting and the center iitting and in closer proximity to the latter than to the former, is undisturbed by the heating operation. In addition, the elimination of the separate tapering operation effects a saving in the cost of expensive .machinery necessary to produce the tapering effect by other processes.

As a result of the operation, it will be seen that there is formed in the end of the bar, two portions which extend toward each other, these portions tending to form a bridge between the sides to withstand.V a collapsing of the open end of the bar.

The length of the channels may be made to suit the needs. In the drawings, I have shown them as of equal length, but it will be understood thatV this may be varied, as for instance, Where it` is 'desired to have a portion of the fitting extend toward the center a. greater distance than the remainder of the fitting to provide aprotection against Wear, such as would bev produced by the device striking against the wheel of the vehicle.

In the drawings, I have shown-different forms of fittings which may be employed in connection with the bar; In each form, I preferably employ an end member which is adapted to practically close theopen end of the bar and strap port-ions which are While this isY f the preferred way in which the channels are adapted to extend into the depressions, the latter being indicated at 21a. The general arrangement of the strap portions is shown in Figa-5 at 21a, these having a cross-sectional contiguration adapted to practically ytitthevchannel and having the outer face practically continuing the general contiguration of the portion of the bar which is not depressed, this arrangement practically preserving t-he symmetry of the bar and at the same time providing for maximum strength at the ends of the bar without employing heavy and cumbersome fittings, it being understood that the Vstraps differ from a band structure such as is commonly employed in connection with devices of this character.

'Ihe connecting po-rtion of the litting may vary to meet conditions. For instance, in Fig. l0, I have shown the simplest form, wherein the fitting is somewhat similar t0 a strap 21 bent to form the legs 21L which extend into the channels, said strap being provided with inwardly-extending projecting portions 2lb which oppose each other when the strap is in position, said members having a configuration which will approximate the shape ofthe open end of the bar. This form is preferably applied by first spreading the legs 21a a distance suiiicient to permit the passage of the ring, indicated at 22, between the projections 2lb, after which the legs are bent inward into the channels, thus closing the end of the bar. In this form, as Well as in the remaining forms, I preferably provide the legs with cross recesses 21C adjacent their inner ends, these recesses being adapted to receive a band 21d, this band being formed of malleable iron and heated prior to the positioning of the fitting, the band being passed over the legs prior to the placing of the fitting in position, the cooling of the band 2ld causing a shrinkage suiiicient to retain the fitting in position, thus dispensing with the use of bolts orrivets for holding the titting in its position. By this arrangement, it will be understood that I provide a fitting which does not encircle the end of the bar, with the exception of the band 21d, this band acting to retain the strap in its channels and this retaining action serves to prevent theiitting from passing out of the channels under lateral or torsional strains. The preferred form of fitting is shown in Fig. l, in which the legs 21a are connected by a portion 21e which has a configuration to substantially cover the open end of the bar and which is provided with a loop 2lc to receive the ring 22. The inner face of the portion 2le is preferably formed with an inwardly-extending web or rib 21g enlarged llaterally at its ends,'as at 21h, these enlargements being adapted to rest against the inner face of the channel Walls, thus forming reinforcements to these Walls at the ends of the/bar. In order tovpermit the insertion of the ring, thevvvebV and leg are cut-away as at 2lj in'lig. l. In this forni, the fitting iis not sprea'd apart to receivethe ring 22, the

`vention is employed in connection with evener bars, I lform the fitting slightly dif ferent, in that I provide for the securing of the clevis 23 at the rear of the har,7the clevis encircling the bar as noiv generally practised, and preferably placing on the band 21d a suitable eye 27 to receive the stay chain used for connecting the evener bar to the vehicle axle. In this form, the web arrangement shown iiiconiiection With the preferred formV (with the exception that the cut-away portion 211' is omitted) may be employed, the ring-receiving` off-set of the form shown in Fig. l not being necessary in connection with the fitting of tliis foi-in. In each forni, however, it will be readily seen that the same general characteristics are present, in that the bar is provided With theY opposing depressions or channels at the extremities of the major axis; that the litting is forn'red with legs instead of a complete band, Which legsareof stout material Without increasing the Weight; that the band 21d, acting as an ciiicieiit securing means, is relatively inexpensive and does not materially change the configuration of the bar; that the bar is practically imperforate and retains its maxi muni strength to which is added the strength provided by the change in configuration as Well as the bracing produced by the fitting; that the form of the appliance is not radically changed by its use in diiierent connections, the end configuration of the bar being substantially the same in any of its uses, thus enabling the construction of the bar to be provided practically on a standard basis, the length of the bar practicallyT indicating its use and forming the principal difference in construction in the inished bar, thus enabling the use of a single type of machine for forming the end configuration regardless of the use to which the bar is to be put. In addition, this particular arrangement enables interchange of iittings if the same is desired, the leg portions of the fittings being of substantially similar cross-sectional con- `figuration; the main differences being in forni and position of the ring-receiving portion'. this latter being controlled by the use to which it is to be put.

In connection with the bar, I may and preferably do employ a center fitting structure of the type shown in Figs. l and 6, coniprising a band 2li and eye 2a Which are provided with perforations 24" intermediate l the eye andv band portion, said peiforati'ons permitting the passage of a bolt 25` having a slot 25L to receive a. key26, this arrangenient permitting the band .to be clamped to the bar. In this arrangement I preferablyl form a depression 2Ob to `receive a projecting portion or lug` 24C of the band portion, this lug acting as a reinforce and at the same time aiding in preventing the band from. being shifted circuniferentially of the bar. This latter construction is a preferred one, kbut it will be understood that other arrangements may be employed for this purpose, `the invention not being confined to this forni.

lhile I have herein shown and described several Ways iii Which my invention may be carried out, it will be readily understood that changes and modiications therein may be required or desired to meet the exigencies of use, and I therefore desire to be understood as reserving the right to make any and all such changesand modifications as may be required or desired in so far as the same may fall Within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described `my invention, what I claim as new is zl. In a draft appliance, a' metallic tubular bar endless in crosssection and iiattened to provide majorA andininor axes cross-sectionally, said bar having longitudinal channels opposing each other and extending inwardly from the end of the bar and located at the extremities of the majo-r axis.l and ittings carried by said bar and extending into said channels.

2. In a draft appliance, a metallic tubular bar endless in cross-section and flattened to provide major and minor axes cross-sectionally, said bar having longitudinal channels opposing each other and extending inwardly from the end of the bar and located at the extremities of the major axis, the channels terminating short of the longitudinal center of the bar, and fittings carried by said bar and extending into said channels.

3. In a draft appliance, a metallic tubular bar endless in cross-section and {iatteiied to provide maj or and minor axes crosssectionally, said bar having longitudinal channels opposing each other and extending inwardly from the end of the bar and located at the extremities of the major axis, an end fitting having legs extending into and fitting said channels, and means for securing the legs Within the channels.

4. In a draft appliance, a metallic tubular bar endless in cross-section and flattened to provide major and minor axes cross-sectionally, said bar having longitudinal channels opposing each other and extending inwardly from the end of the bar and located at the extremities of the major axis, an end fitting having legs extending into and litting said channels, and a band for securing the legs within the channels.

5. In a draft appliance, a metallic tubular bar endless in cross-section and flattened to provide major and minor aXes cross-section ally, said bar having longitudinal channels opposing each other and extending inwardly from the end of the bar and located at the extremities of the major axis, an end fitting bridging the open end of the bar and having legs seated in the channels, said bridge portion having an inwardly extending web adapted to support the channel walls.

6. In a draft appliance, a metallic tubular bar endless in cross-section and attened to provide major and minor axes cross-sectionally, said bar .having longitudinal channels opposing each other and extending inwardly from the end of the bar and located at the extremities of the major axis, an end fitting bridging and substantially closing the open lend of the bar and having legsV seated in the channels, and a band for securing the legs within the channels.

7. In a draft appliance, a metallic tubular bar endless in cross-section and flattened to provide major and minor axes cross-sectionally, said bar having longitudinal channels opposing each other and extending inwardly from the end of the bar and located at the extremities of the major axis, the formation of the channels eifecting a taperto the bar end, and fittings carried by said bar and exe tending into said channels.

8. In a draft appliance, a metallic tubular bar endless in cross-section and flattened to provide major and minor axes cross-sectionally, said bar being depressed at one of the extremities of the major axis at a point intermediate and spaced from its ends, and al clip substantially surrounding the bar and having a projection or lug iittingsaid depression.v

9. In a draft appliance, a metallic tubular bar endless in cross-section and liattened to provide major and minor axes cross-sectionally, said bar being depressed at one of the extremities of the major axis at a point intermediate and spaced from its ends, and a clip substantially surrounding the bar and having a projection or 'lug fitting said depression, said clip having an eye, and means for clamping the clip in position.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. BUCHANAN. l/Vitnesses:

HORACE Gr. Snrrz, THnoDoRE K. BRYANT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing' the Commissioner of Patents,

' ,Washington D. 0.. 

